Softball

Clutch Hit Eludes Titans in 2-1 Loss

FULLERTON, CA -
Brittany Knudsen's two-out infield single scored Felicia Reifschneider with the go-ahead run in the fifth inning and Samantha Beasley allowed just one hit in 3 2/3 innings of relief to help lift visiting San Diego State to a 2-1 victory over Cal State Fullerton on Wednesday at Anderson Family Field.

The loss dropped the Titans to 5-27 overall as they left 10 runners on base for the game, six of those in scoring position, and four stranded at third base. The Aztecs improved to 21-9 overall with the victory.

Freshman Aly Fascetti (0-3) suffered the loss, but pitched well in relief of starter Krystal Heinle, allowing just the lone run on one hit and striking out one in three innings of work. Heinle, scattered six hits in four innings, striking out a pair, but earned the no decision.

Beasley (16-6) turned back every Fullerton rally she faced, finishing with seven strikeouts to earn the victory. She allowed only a Nicole Johnson single in the fifth and left four Titans stranded on the basepaths.

San Diego State, which committed five errors on the afternoon, rallied for the winning run in its half of the fifth as Reifschneider walked with one out and stole second to move into scoring position. After a pop-out to short that almost turned into a double play, Knudsen hit a soft roller to second base and beat the throw while Reifschneider was motoring around third, running all the way with two outs and outracing the throw to plate for the 2-1 lead.

Fullerton mounted a rally in a wild sixth inning as senior Sheila Holguin reach third base when an Aztec outfielder dropped a fly ball and her throw back to the infield bounced into no-man's land. Pinch-hitter Sammie Dabbs then reached on a fielder's choice to shortstop when it was ruled that her short pop-up was trapped, not caught, putting runners at the corners with one out.

Dabbs then stole second base to put a pair into scoring position, but Beasley worked out of the jam, getting a strikeout and a ground ball to third to end the inning. Beasley then retired the side in order in the seventh - including two via the strikeout - to end the game.

The Aztecs struck first in the third inning as Jen Wisneski led-off the frame with her second home run of the season over the wall in left centerfield for the 1-0 lead.

The Titans responded with a run in the fourth as Ariel Tsuchiyama reached on an error and moved to second on a wild pitch. That brought up Holguin with nobody out and the senior lined a double into the gap in left centerfield to tie the score.

Five different players accounted for Fullerton's five hits while Jessica Camello was 2-for-3 for San Diego State to lead all players.

With the non-conference portion of their season now behind them, the Titans open up Big West Conference play on Friday afternoon (April 2) as Fullerton hosts UC Santa Barbara in a three-game series beginning with a doubleheader at 4 p.m. The two teams then conclude the series with a single game on Saturday at Noon.